The American Child, page 39 by Elizabeth McCracken
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eces, and in a corner was,--not a melodeon,--but a piano. The maker's name was on it--a name famous in two continents.
"Your aunt told me you were musical," I said to the girl. "I see that the piano is your instrument."
"Yes," she assented. "But I don't play very well. I haven't had many lessons. Only one year with a really good teacher."
"Who was your teacher?" I asked idly. I fully expected her to say, "Some one in the village through which you came."
"Perhaps you know my teacher," she replied; and she mentioned the name of one of the best pianists and piano teachers in New England.
"Most of the time I've studied by myself," she went on; "but one year auntie had me go to town and have good lessons."
At supper this girl waited on the table, and after supper she washed the dishes and made various preparations for the next morning's breakfast. Then she joined her aunt and the boarders, of whom there were nine, on the veranda.
"I should so like to hear you play something on the piano," I said to her.
She at once arose, and, followed by me, went into the music-room, which was just off the veranda. "I only play easy things," she said, as she seated herself at the piano.
Whereupon she played, with considerable skill, one of Schumann's simpler compositions, one of Schubert's, and one of Grieg's. Then, turning around on the piano-stool, she asked me, "Do you like Debussy?"
I thought of what my neighbor had prophesied concerning "The Maiden's Prayer." Debussy! And this girl was a country girl, born and bred on that dairy farm, educated at the little district school of the vicinity; and, moreover, trained to take a responsible part in the work of the farm both in winter and in summer. Her family for generations had been "country people."
It was not surprising that she had made the acquaintance of Debussy's music; nor that she had at her tongue's end all the arguments for and against it. Her music-teacher was, of course, accountable for this. What